Combination inhaler, cigarette filter, and holder



Feb. 29, 1944.

S. FURSTENBERG COMBINATION INHALER, CIGARETTE FILTER, AND-'HOLDER FiledAug. 25 1941 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1944 t i l CMBINATIONINHALERSIGARETTE FILTER, AND HO ER Siegfried Furstenberg, New York, N.Y.

Application August 25, 1941, Serial No. 408,201

1 Claim.

vision of structure whereby an inhalery is provided capable of use withvarious volatile materials of a medicinal or other nature, and whichdoes not obviously betray to others .the fact vthat the user is notactually smoking a cigarette.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure by suitableadjustment-l of which the same may be adapted for use with a cigaretteac tually burning so that the smoke from the cigarette becomes mixedwith volatile materials as described above.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a combination inhaler,cigarette filter and holder, wherein by suitable adjustment the inhalingand filtering features may be omitted and the device used solely for thepurpose of holding the ciga rette in the mouth or lips of the user.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a device of the characterdescribed, which is readily taken apart for the replacement of thevolatile materials, for adaptation of different uses and for cleaning orrepair.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the same is capable oflarge scale production at low cost so that the same may have aconsequent wide sale and use.

By reason of the simplicity and novel arrangement of the parts, the sameis readily adjusted by anyone having no special skill and is foolproofin operation.

It is a Well known fact that many individuals who smoke a great deal orto excess would like to give up the habit or at least reduce the numberrof cigarettes smoked during the day. Besides whatever stimulatingeffect the nicotine may have upon a smoker, there is also thepsychological effect of carrying a lighted cigarette in the hands orlips which gives the user a certain re-` laxation of tension. I

In. accordance with the-present invention, the smoker is able to holdwhat appears to be a lighted cigarette in his hand or mouth, thuscreating the impression to others that he is actually smoking, as wellas giving him a certain psychological relaxation of nervous tension. Thevolatile materials in the device are inhaled and have (Cl. 12S- 200)both a beneficial effect upon the previously irritated nasal, throat andbronch1a1 passages, and produce a pleasant and satisfying taste in themouth. Even where the device is used for the purpose of reducing thetotal number of ciga-I rettes smoked during the day, the alternation ofthe use of this device between the cigarette smokings improves thecondition of the smoke carrying passages of the user and also reducesthe taste fatigue which occurs from constant smoking.

As will be further described below, when desired, the same device may beadjusted for use as a cigarette holder and filter, orr a cigaretteholder alone.

These objects and '.her incidental ends -and advantages Wll1 more fullyappear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing forming a material part hereof, similar referencecharacters kdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsofeach embodiment.

Figure l is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the inventionshomi in actual size.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View as might be seen fromthe'plane 3-3 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of a secondembodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view taken similarly to Figure 4 showing an adjusted formof the second embodi-` ment of the invention as adaptedvfor use as acigarette holder. y

Figure 6 is an elevational view, taken similarly to Figure 1, actualsize, of the second embodiment of the invention as adjusted for use as acigarette holder and filter.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional `viewof the forward portion (the left hand end) of Figure 6.

Turning now to the first embodiment of the invention illustrated linFigures 1 to 3, inclusive, the combination inhaler, cigarette filter andholding device is generally indicated by numeral l0. Broadly speaking,.the device l0 comprisesa casing or main cylinder` H, a volatilematerial carrying chamber and lter tube I2, and a mouthpiece, bitorholder i3.

The main cylinder Il is preferably a true cylinder in shape, having areduced portion I6 connected to the main cylinder Il by the shoulder l5.The main cylinder Il and the reduced `shank 24 0f the bit I3.

portion I4 form a continuous tube, the forward end being closed by aplug I1. The cylinder II is preferably composed of fused ceramicmaterial, such as porcelain, although other vitreous materials may beused. `The advantage of the use of porcelain lies in the fact that thesame, when composed of a white clay, forms a close resemblance to anordinary cigarette in the outer appearance thereof. The cylinder may.however, be made of other materials, such as thermoplastic artificialresins, such as Bakelite, ureaplastic compounds or methyl methacrylatecompounds. Since the outer wall surface of the cylinder II rearwardlyofthe shoulder I5 is white and gives the `appearance of a cigarette, theforward reduced portion I4, together with a part of the annular shoulderI5 as well as the forward exposed surface of the plug I1, is treated togive the appearance of an ash-covered burning cigarette.end. This isaccomplished by first coating the said shoulder, reduced portion andplug end with the layer I8 of copper bronze, the copper bronze beinga'mixture of fine metallic copper particles in a suitable transparentbinder such as cellulose acetate dissolved in amyl acetate. Sufficientplasticizers, or other materials to retard the drying of the said binderare introduced therein so that the same has an adhesive character, andbefore the same is fully dry, ash resembling particles I9 are dusted on.These particles adhere and give the impression of a glowing cigaretteend covered with cigarette ashes. The ash-resembling particles I9 arepreferably formed from a mixture of small white, gray and blackparticles made by coloring sand grains with different colored pigmentsor by using granular material having the desired coloredcharacteristics, such as white sand, grey sand and granulated coal orsimilar black material.

The rear end 2I of the cylinder II is provided with an internal thread22 which is adapted to threadedly engage an external thread 23 on theThe cylinder II at the forward end I6 thereof adjoining the shoulder I5is provided with an air inlet orifice 25. The oriiice 25 is ofrelatively small diameter, being large enough only to admit sufficientair for the proper use of the device I0, and its location among theash-resembling particles I9 permits its concealment.

The bit I3 may be of any desired external configuration, but preferablytakes the form shown, which is intended to present the externalappearance of a stereotyped form of cigarette holder. The bit I3 isprovided with an internal bore 21 which extends from the rea-r end 28 ofthe bit I3 forwardly through the shank 24, but has the diameter thereofenlarged within the shank 24 to form the shank bore 29. Between the body30 of the bit I3 and the shank 24, there is an annular shoulder 3Ipresenting a front face 32. The rear end of the cylinder II is adaptedto abut against the face 32 when the cylinder I I is screwed into itsfully seated position. The bit I3 may be composed of any suitablematerial, as for example, Bakelite, amber, hard rubber, or similarmaterial.

The volatile material carrying chamber and filter tube I2 is preferablycomposed of glass, is cylindrical in shape, and the body portion thereof33 has an external diameter preferably slightly less than the internaldiameter of the cylinder I I so that the same may be freely insertedtherein or removed therefrom. The length of the tube I2 is such that theforward end 34 thereof is adapted to be disposed a sufficient distancerearwardly of the inner end of the plug I1 so that air may enter throughthe orifice 25 into the end 3l. The rear end of the tube I2 is providedwith a neck 36 of reduced diameter. The diameter of the neck 36 ispreferably slightly less than the internal diameter of the shank bore 29and a rubber spacer or gasket 31 serves to frictionally and replaceablyposition the tube I2 with relation to the bit I3. The resiliencyafforded by the gasket 31 permits slight movement of the tube I2 withrelation to the shank 24 without breakage of the tube I2 when the sameis composed of brittle material. Where desired, the tube I2 may becomposed of a suitable thermoplastic material, such as LuciteJ As seenin Figure 2, the volatile material IIJ is disposed within the tube I2and may be maintained in position therein by any suitable porous plugIl, such as absorbent cotton.

The use of the device is a relatively simple matter. Any desiredvolatile material 40 may be placed within the tube I2 when the cylinderII has been unscrewed and the plug 4I removed. The replacing of theseparts to the positions shown in Figure 2 renders the device operative,and sucking on the end 28 by the smoker will draw air through theorifice 25, the tube I2, the neck 36 and the bore 21. As the volatilematerial becomes consumed, it may be replaced.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigures 4 to 7 inclusive, the device, generally indicated by numeralI0', differs principally from the first embodiment in the fact that thereduced portion I4 is a plug in and of itself so that the forward endIB' is removable by reason of the fact that the same has a reduced shank50' which threadedly engages an internal thread on the forward end ofthe Casing or cylinder II. The plug Ill may be treated to resemble aburning cigarette end in a manner similar to that described above. Theplug I4 contains a channel or orifice or air admitting orice 25. Thecylinder II is otherwise of subn stantially the same construction as thecylinder l I previously described, and the same, for the purpose ofavoiding undue repetition, is marked in the drawing with singly primedcharacters at those parts corresponding to the first embodiment.

The tube I2 may be substantially identical with the construction of thetube I2 previously described, and here again, for the purpose ofavoiding needless repetition, the parts are given corresponding singlyprimed reference characters.

The bit I3 differs principally from the iirst embodiment in that thebore 21 is expanded in a conical shape to form the conical bore 5 Iwhile the shoulder 3|' has an internal thread adapted to receive theunion 52. The union 52 includes an enlarged bit engaging portion 53 anda reduced main cylinder engaging portion or shank 24. The shank 24 hasan external thread and is adapted to be screwed into the rear end 2| ofthe cylinder` II'. The union or shank bore 29 is adapted to receive thegasketl 31', including the neck 36'.

When the second embodiment is used in a manner similar to the firstembodiment, for the purpose of replacing. the volatile material 4U', itbecomes necessary to unscrew only the rear end gz of the cylinder II'from the threaded shank When it is desired to use the' bit I3 only as acigarette holder, the union 52' is removed by separating the enlargedbit engaging portion 53 by unscrewing the same from the shoulder 3|'. Acigarette 60' may then be inserted into the holder or bit I3 in a mannershown in Figure 5 and the threads 55' help to hold the cigarette 60 inplace. The diameter of the space between opposite portions of thethreads 55 is substantially equal to or slightly less than the normaldiameter of cigarettes sold in trade. If for some reason the diameter ofthe cigarette 60' should be less than the normal diameter, forcing thesame rearwardly against the converging inner walls of the conical bores5|' will suitably position the rear end 6| of the cigarette thereagainstand frictionally engage the same thereat.

Where it is desired to use the device shown in Figure 4 as a cigarettefilter, it becomes necessary only to remove the plug I4 and to insert inits stead the cigarette 10'. This is shown in Figures 6 and 7. When soadjusted, air enters the forward end 12 of the cigarette 10', and,forming smoke with the burning tobacco, passes through the cigarette10', thence through the tube l2' and the neck 36', the bore 29', thebore 5I', and the bore 21'. The smoke thus becomes filtered andflavored. The rear end 'Il' of the cigarette 10' is readily detachablyengageable by slightly compressing the same within the internal threadsat the forward end of the cylinder Il.

It may thus be seen that the second embodiment of the invention may havethe three dierent functions previously described, convenientlyavailable.

In conclusion then. there has been disclosed novel combination inhaler,cigarette lter and holding devices which are simple and foolproof inconstruction and operation, are sanitary in use and may be made inrelatively large quantities at low cost.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

A combination inhaler, cigarette lter and holder for alternative usewith a cigarette, comprising: a main cylinder of an outer diameter andappearance similar to said cigarette, and having a detachable plugcovered with imitation ashes, said plug being inserted in and threaengaging the forward end of said main cylinder, said plug having an airadmitting orifice; a transparent volatile material carrying tubedisposed within-said cylinder and concealed thereby; said tube havingareduced rear neck with a resilient gasket thereon; volatile materialwithin said carrying tube; a union having an enlarged bit engagingportion, a reduced main cylinder engaging portion, and a central bore; amouthpiece bit having a second bore and adapted to detachably engage thesaid bit engaging portion oi' the union; said cylinder being detachablyengageable at the rear end thereof upon the outer surface of the reducedmain cylinder engaging portion of the union; the gasket on the rear endof said tube being detachably engageable within the bore in the union.

SIEGFRIED .FURSTENBERG.

d'edly

